New to Home Printing-Help!

Hi all, this is my first time posting on Apug. I have browsed the forums for years but never made an account. I'm hoping you guys can help me with setting up my first home darkroom. This post is long, you can skip to the bottom for a TL;DR.

I recently acquired a Beseler 23cii and some darkroom materials. I got the enlarger, 35mm negative carrier, multiple trays, tongs, cups, 2 adjustable border easels, an enlarger timer, and two safe lights. (All for 75 USD, I might add. What a steal!)

I shoot primarily medium format, 6x7 on an RZ67. I purchased an EL nikkor 105 5.6 for use with this system. Unfortunately I discovered that the previous owner had installed a Schneider Kreuznach Companon 50/4 lens that had an M25 thread instead of the standard L39 so my lensboard doesn't fit my lens. I've got a standard lensboard in the mail, but I know they have lensboards with extensions, do I need one of these?

Also, I'm missing a grain focuser and a 6x7 carrier. I plan to print at 8x10 and smaller, do I need a grain focuser? I've made 8x10s from 35mm negs without using one and it's worked out ok so far. As for the carrier, can I make one? The prices for a 6x7 carrier to fit this model are absurd.

The person I bought the enlarger from also gave me two small chemical packets. One is KODAK hypo clearing agent, still sealed. The other is a small packet of sepia toner, to make the bleach and toner. Are either of these too old to be used? No idea how old they really are, but I suspect at least 5-10 years.

TL;DR:
I'm 22, making prints in my bathroom.
Do I need an extended lensboard for a 105 lens?
Do I need a grain focuser for small prints? (5x7-8x10)
Can I make my own carrier for 6x7 negs?
Can I use possibly expired packets of powdered Kodak chems?

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give.

I would definitely get a grain focuser. I may have an extra one and maybe even an extra 6x7 carrier for the 23c. If I have them I can send them to you if you cover the shipping. Where are you located?


you do not need an extended lens board.
I would think the hypo clear is still good, not sure how long sepia toner lasts.

You also don't need that long of a lens for 6x7, optimal lens size is 80-90mm

Welcome to APUG

For 6x7 you need an 80mm [75mm to 90mm] lens but the 105mm lens will do the job. I agree with the posts above that a grain focuser is extremely useful for all negative sizes, 35mm to 4"x5".

likemarlonbrando said:

I would definitely get a grain focuser. I may have an extra one and maybe even an extra 6x7 carrier for the 23c. If I have them I can send them to you if you cover the shipping. Where are you located?


you do not need an extended lens board.
I would think the hypo clear is still good, not sure how long sepia toner lasts.

Click to expand...

Thanks for offering to help! If you find them, let me know, we can PM shipping details.

I chose the 105 lens because I want to make slightly smaller prints, so a longer lens gives a little more altitude, which in turn gives me a little more room for dodging and burning and other stuff. Also 105 covers 6x9, the largest negative this enlarger can carry, so it at least gives me room to expand if I decide to use that format in the future.

Start with a large box of smallest sized paper/RC you can get.
Saves a lotta $...
Wet printing teaches that under exposure and over developing are real bad.
You can learn in the hard school if you want.
Don't snatch prints from the developer ...

Xmas said:

Start with a large box of smallest sized paper/RC you can get.
Saves a lotta $...
Wet printing teaches that under exposure and over developing are real bad.
You can learn in the hard school if you want.
Don't snatch prints from the developer ...

Click to expand...

I was planning on buying a 100 sheet pack of 5x7 Ilford Pearl RC. I've made a few 8x10s with the same paper and I like it so far. I always develop my prints for 90 seconds. I learned my lesson about print development in my Photo I classes.

A grain focuser is nice to have, but with young 22 year old eyes you should be able to focus decently w/o a grain focuser, especially since you are not making large prints.
Just open the lens to max, and it should be fairly easy to focus...at least it was when I was younger.
Then close down to the desired amount for exposure.

Feel lucky that you don't have a Durst. Spare parts for that enlarger is even more EXPENSIVE than your 23c.

I would get a box of 8x10 and a cheap rotary paper cutter. Then you have the option of printing up to 8x10, and you can easily cut down the 8x10 to 4x5 or 5x8.

Radical Eddward said:

Hi all, this is my first time posting on Apug. I have browsed the forums for years but never made an account. I'm hoping you guys can help me with setting up my first home darkroom. This post is long, you can skip to the bottom for a TL;DR.

Do I need an extended lensboard for a 105 lens?
Do I need a grain focuser for small prints? (5x7-8x10)
Can I make my own carrier for 6x7 negs?
Can I use possibly expired packets of powdered Kodak chems?

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give.

Click to expand...

No, you don't need an extended lens board.
You shouldn't need a grain focuser, but they are nice to have.
Yes, you can make your own carrier, keep an eye out for one from Beseler, maybe someone here has one for low bucks.
You can use the Kodak chems IF when the developer is mixed it is clear to very light tea colored, if brown it's no good.

Welcome to APUG you're going to have a great time making prints!

As the previous posters said, you don't need the extension, I use that same lens on my 23c on a stock lens board.

When I was your age I could focus an enlarger by eye, but can't do it today.

I use homemade matboard carriers in my 23c often, a good hand "pull-type" mat cutter is nice for making clean beveled cuts. I've been using "double black" mat board ( it's a flat black color inside and out ) and it works well without problems of reflected light off the bevels. Cut two identical squares, with windows of the desired size then tape them together to make a hinge. You can make a nice easel in a similar way.

Odd response warning
There's alot of examples like this thread, but these are where we seem to shine the best. I've been the grateful recipent of this kind of help also. Bravo, gents for superb help.

NedL said:

When I was your age I could focus an enlarger by eye, but can't do it today.

Click to expand...

I can still focus by eye but when I compare today's prints with a grain enlarger with the prints that I made as a teenager, today's prints win every time. The money spent on a grain enlarger is money well spent. I wish that I had learned about it sooner.

Thanks everyone for your help and encouragement. I really do look forward to continuing to make prints! I have some 6x7 negs that I can't wait to see blown up, and not on the computer screen. I'll definitely look into making my own carrier from mat boards. I may just go to a local art supply store and have them cut one for me, since I don't own a mat cutter. As for the grain focuser, I'll make do without one for now until the budget allows to get a good one.

Thank you again!

Sirius Glass said:

I can still focus by eye but when I compare today's prints with a grain enlarger with the prints that I made as a teenager, today's prints win every time. The money spent on a grain enlarger is money well spent. I wish that I had learned about it sooner.

Click to expand...

That's a good point Sirius... the prints looked good to us college kids but I have no idea what I'd think about them today.

So I did find a grain focuser, it is a nice one but the mirror is missing, so if you want it you would need to find a mirror that size or have one cut? Interested? I can get some photos later today if you want.

Find another grain enlarger. The mirror needs to be first surface and mounted in exactly the right position. Keep looking.